Benefits of acupuncture treatment for back pain ‘affected by mindset’

A new UK study has shed light on the impact that psychological factors can have on the success of acupuncture treatment among people with back pain.

Carried out by the University of Southampton with backing from Arthritis Research UK, the study aimed to establish why some people with back pain gain more benefit from acupuncture than others, looking at data from 485 patients.

It was revealed that people who had lower expectations of acupuncture before they started a course of treatment generally gained less benefit than those who believed it would work. Moreover, patients with a positive view of back pain who felt in control of their condition experienced less back-related disability over the course of acupuncture treatment.

This underlines the importance of the placebo effect on perceptions of pain and highlights a need for acupuncturists to consider helping patients to think more positively.

Dr Stephen Simpson, director of research at Arthritis Research UK, said: "This understanding could lead in the future to better targeting of acupuncture and related therapies in order to maximise patient benefit."

Back pain affects around four in every five people at some point in their lives and can be caused by a number of factors. However, it is not usually a serious issue and often clears up of its own accord.